Topics

MONCTON, N.B. — Residents started their day Friday still hunkered in basements as hundreds of police officers from all over the province hunted a young man suspected of shooting five RCMP officers, killing three of them.

One of those gunned down is Dave Ross, formerly of Victoriaville, Que.

Meanwhile, the city remained in a "very, very dangerous situation," Cpl. Chantal Farrah said during a news conference late in the day.

Officers looking for Justin Bourque, 24, locked down an area in the north part of the city Wednesday night and continued to urge residents to stay locked inside their homes Thursday.

"It has been perhaps the darkest day in the history of the New Brunswick RCMP," Commanding Officer Roger Brown said.

Earlier in the day, police descended on a rooming house but then dispersed about two hours later and wouldn't comment on what happened.

The suspect was last seen around 8 a.m. Thursday, Codiac RCMP Supt. Marlene Snowman said.

An earlier report of a sighting proved to be unfounded.

"This is a difficult time for Moncton," she said. "Our thoughts are with the families and with the community as well."

Brown described the investigation as "working through your worst nightmare."

He encouraged residents to remain vigilant and to call police if they spot the suspect.

"He is very mobile and still considered very dangerous, armed and dangerous," Brown said.

Police responded to a call at about 7:20 p.m. Wednesday of a man walking down the street carrying firearms. Three of the responding officers were shot and killed. Two others sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to hospital. One remained in stable condition late Thursday, while the other had been released.

Police didn't release the names of the deceased and injured officers.

Click to open in new window

Click to the right on the graphic below to see a timeline of the shooting and manhunt

Pictures of the suspect circulating online show a white man in his 20s or 30s clad in camouflage and carrying a rifle and another weapon.

Justin Bourque's Facebook page features a number of posts about guns and cops. The most recent post, written just before Wednesday night's shooting spree, is lyrics from the Megadeth song, Hook In Mouth: "Don't try to fool us, we know the worst is yet to come./ I believe my kingdom will come."

Allen Rollin, who lives in the area that is locked down, said he and his family heard police helicopters and sirens all night. The street outside his home was deserted.

"It's a ghost town right now," he said from his basement. "There's not one person on the street."

Marc-Andre Frenette, who lives near the scene of the shooting, told QMI Agency's sister news channel LCN that he sought refuge after the shots rang out.

"We barricaded ourselves in the basement since we were just a few blocks (away)," he said. "I heard about 20 shots. I heard the second volley. There were three rounds in all. I only heard the second volley, there were more than that before and afterward."

Colette St-Pierre, who lives in downtown Moncton, said it was "absolutely quiet" inside the locked-down area.

"It's stressful, I have to say," she said. "There's tension. I'm alone in the house. The blinds are all closed, the doors are locked.

"I haven't seen anything except helicopters that passed over the house several times. It's very uncomfortable."